MEMBERS of the town’s Bangladeshi community hope to install a monument to an international languages day in a Swindon park.

Ward councillor Abdul Amin, a member of the Swindon Bangladesh Association, spoke to South Swindon parish councillors about the proposed monument for International Mother Language Day.

The sculpture would be fitted in GWR Park, Faringdon Road, he suggested.

“Bangladesh is the only country that fought and its citizens gave their lives to speak they mother language,” he told the parish.

“The international day recognises the significance of multilingualism.

“Languages have an integral part in connecting communities and keeping them sustained. The UK is probably one of the most multi-cultural counties in the world and Swindon is a diverse town with many different languages spoken.”

The monument was something Swindon needed and deserved, he said.

Plans were at a very early stage, but it would be expected to be a permanent structure. The sculpture would be largely funded by the Bangladeshi community, but they may look to the parish council for further support, Coun Amin said.

Any permanent memorial would not be built in time for the next International Mother Language day on February 21, but it was hoped to secure funding and planning permission ready for 2020’s celebration.

Supporting the principle of the memorial, South Swindon Parish Council chairman Chris Watts said: “Swindon is a multi-cultural town and this is something that could bring those communities together.”